Title
Adoption of Resolution Approving Parcel Map No. 11349 to Subdivide a 4.12-Acre Property into Two Lots at Alameda Point Site A Block 10 (APN: 074-1378-001).
This Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15315, Minor Land Subdivisions and 15183, Projects Consistent with A General Plan. (Planning, Building & Transportation 20962710)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Planning Board adopted the Alameda Point Site A Development Plan in 2015, which designated the project site, Block 10, as entirely commercial. In 2021, the City of Alameda (City) was informed by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) that the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the City’s 6th cycle housing element will be 5,353 dwelling units, an increase from 1,723 in the City’s 5th cycle housing element. In July 2022, to accommodate the large RHNA increase, the Planning Board amended the Alameda Point Site A Development Plan to increase the maximum number of allowed dwelling units within Site A from 800 to 1,482. As part of that Development Plan amendment, Block 10 was re-designated from entirely commercial to allowing up to 179 dwelling units (89 market rate, 90 affordable) while requiring a minimum of 10,500 square feet of ground floor commercial along West Atlantic Avenue.
The 2022 Site A Development Plan amendment combines the 90 affordable dwelling units with the 10,500 square feet of ground floor commercial into one project. As an affordable housing project, this development will require public funding, which requires the developer demonstrate “full control” of the site. Parcel Map No. 11349 will split the 4.12-acre Block 10 into two lots; the northern 2.97 acres will accommodate a future 89 dwelling unit market rate project, while the southern 1.15 acres will accommodate a future mixed use project with 90 affordable dwelling units and 10,500 square feet of ground floor commercial. Approval of Parcel Map No. 11349 will allow transfer of the southern 1.15 acres to an affordable housing developer so they can demonstrate “full control” of the site and therefore qualify for public funding to develop the property.
BACKGROUND
In July 2014, the City adopted the Alameda Point Waterfront and Town Center Plan to establish the development standards for the first area of development within Alameda Point, referred to as Site A.
In May 2015, the Planning Board approved the Site A Development Plan, which divided the Site A project into developable blocks and established land uses and densities for each block. Block 10 within Site A was designated for commercial activities with public open plazas.
In June 2016, the Planning Board approved the Design Review for Block 10 to allow four commercial buildings and an associated public plaza. Since these approvals, the applicant completed the first phase of the Alameda Point Master Infrastructure Plan. While Block 10 has not been developed, residential developments have been completed at Blocks 6, 7, 8, and 9, for a total of 454 dwelling units.
In July 2022, the Planning Board approved amendments to the Site A Development Plan to increase the maximum number of residential units allowed within Site A from 800 to 1,482 dwellings. City Council approved an amendment to the Alameda Point Site A Development Agreement to reflect the changes in the Development Plan amendment. The increase in allowed residential units was in response to the increase from 1,723 residential units to 5,353 residential units in the City’s RHNA required for the 2023-2031 Housing Element. In the 2022 Development Plan amendment, Block 10 was changed from being entirely commercial to now allowing up to 179 residential units (90 affordable and 89 market rate) with ground floor commercial space facing West Atlantic Avenue.
Presently, the applicant is requesting approval of Parcel Map 11349 to subdivide the 4.12-acre Block 10 into two separate parcels, a 2.97 acre parcel and a 1.15 acre parcel, to facilitate the future development of the 90 affordable residential units with ground floor commercial and 89 market rate residential units as separate projects. The Planning Board held a public hearing on April 24, 2023 and adopted Planning Board Resolution No. PB-23-05 recommending City Council approval of Parcel Map No. 11349.
DISCUSSION
Block 10 is located at the northwest corner of West Atlantic Avenue and Ardent Way. East of Block 10 across Ardent Way is Block 9, a 200-unit apartment building marketed as the Aero Apartments that was completed in 2022. Directly west of Block 10 is Block 11, where entitlements for a 220-unit apartment building have been approved, but construction has yet to start. Currently there are three extant buildings on the project site that will not be impacted by this application, but will eventually be demolished as part of future entitlements.
As stated above, the 2022 Site A Development Plan amendment changed the allowed land uses of Block 10. Specifically, the northern approximately 2.97 acres of Block 10, referred to as 10a, is permitted to have 89 market rate residential units and the southern approximately 1.15 acres, referred to as 10b, is permitted to have 90 affordable rate residential units with 10,500 square feet of ground floor commercial that must front onto West Atlantic Avenue. Parcel Map 11349 subdivides the property into two separate parcels consistent with these amendments.
The amended Development Agreement for Site A, adopted by City Council, designates both Block 10a and 10b as being a part of Alameda Point Site A’s Phase 1. This means both projects, in particular the affordable rate residential units in Block 10b, must be completed prior to the development of Site A’s Phase 2, which includes up to 421 residential units.
Conclusion
Parcel Map 11349 is consistent with the 2022 Site A Development Plan amendment. The subdivision of Block 10 will allow for the 90 affordable residential unit project and 89 market-rate residential unit project to be separate projects, each located on their own parcel.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve the Parcel Map application as recommended by the Planning Board and staff,
• Continue the deliberations until a future date and request additional information necessary for those future deliberations,
• Remand the application back to the Planning Board for further analysis on a particular finding in the Resolution, or
• Deny the requested Parcel Map.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the Parcel Map will have no negative impact on the General Fund. The map is necessary to facilitate development of the property, which will increase the property taxes received by the City.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Provision of additional housing and additional affordable housing is consistent with General Plan Housing Element policies to support additional housing development in Alameda, including Housing Element policy H-1 to take all necessary actions to support the production of at least 5,353 housing units in Alameda to accommodate the RHNA, and Housing Element policy H-4 to expand rental and for-sale housing for people of all income levels. The Parcel Map is also consistent with the General Plan and State and Local Subdivision requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is determined to be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15315, Minor Subdivisions of Land, and none of the exceptions in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. As a separate and independent basis, this project is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15183, Projects Consistent with a General Plan for which an EIR was certified.
CLIMATE IMPACT
The proposed project is consistent with the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan housing policies, which encourages higher-density housing in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed project provides important infill housing in an urban area, in proximity to transit, jobs and services, which can reduce greenhouse gas pollution more effectively than housing built in non-urban locations.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution approving Parcel Map No. 11349 to subdivide a 4.12-acre property into two lots.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas, Planning, Building and Transportation Director
By,
David Sablan, Planner II
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Parcel Map No. 11349